Carter Reed(19)

A stairway led down at one end to the floors below. The entire building was brightly lit.

Then I looked around my floor again. There were two bedrooms. Each of them had a private bath. I had my own living room set-up with two white couches around a fireplace that had candles inside of it.

“How were the goodbyes?”

I swung around. Carter stood at the top of the stairs. Gone was the dark sweatshirt and pants. He was dressed in a pristine-looking suit now. It was grey with blue lines that matched the blue in his eyes to perfection. A tie enhanced the colors even more.

My mouth watered. “You look nice.”

He frowned. “You don’t want to talk about your goodbyes?”

I drew in a breath and looked away. “Are you going somewhere?”

He sighed, but then moved towards me. “I have some meetings I have to get to.”

Of course. That made sense. I had waited until Amanda returned after work to say my goodbyes. He was in the mob. Their work probably happened during night-time hours. “Oh. Okay.”

His frown deepened. “I’ll be back in the morning. If you need food or anything, you can ask Thomas or Mike.”

“Those are the big guys out there?”

“Yeah.” A small grin appeared.

I drew in my breath. His face transformed, even from that small change. I had seen it before, but it was still startling to see it again. He was beautiful—there was no other way to put it. His eyes darkened as he heard my reaction. He moved a step closer and reached for me.

I reacted, stepping away from him, before I realized what I had done. I gritted my teeth together. I wanted his touch, but I feared his touch at the same time. A storm exploded inside of me from the dueling needs.

His hand retracted to his side. “Okay.” His smile softened. “If you need anything, you can call me.” He gestured to the long table behind me. “There’s a new phone there for you. It’s safer for you to use that one, not your old one. Your old could be—someone could be listening in.”

Oh. My brows furrowed together. Did that mean Dunvan knew it was me?

“It’s just safer. Use this new one.”

I looked back and was caught. I couldn’t look away. He had moved closer to me, within touching distance now. His voice grew quiet. “Franco Dunvan has no idea about your involvement. I have a phone company that’ll keep your line safe. I can’t guarantee that with your other phone. This would be a favor to me. It’ll make me worry less about you.”

I jerked my head in a nod. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions.

“Emma,” my name came from him in a soft whisper. He reached out and his hand slid to the back of my neck. He cupped my head and then stepped closer, almost pressing against me.

I closed my eyes as I felt him. My arms twitched. I wanted to wrap them around him and pull him to me, but I couldn’t. So I hugged myself harder. I hadn’t even realized I’d been hugging myself from the beginning. He pressed into me. His breath teased against my lips as his forehead rested on mine.

His other hand lifted and thumbed the corner of my lips.

I gasped, my mouth parted.

His thumb slipped inside, just an inch.

Before I could stop myself, my tongue darted out and swiped against it.

He whispered again, “Emma.” He drew in his own breath, tensing against me.

“Sir.” A different voice broke us apart.

Carter’s eyes were dark with desire as he stared at me, but then he cleared his throat. “Be right there, Gene.”

“Sir.” And then the door shut beneath us.

“I have to go.”

I nodded, trembling before him.

He groaned and reached for me. Instead of feeling his lips against mine, where I wanted them, he pressed them to my forehead. He whispered against me, “I’m glad you’re here. AJ would’ve wanted me to look out for you.”

He tore himself away and was gone within seconds. I was left in a mess behind him.

Was that all he was doing this for? For AJ?

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw it was a text from Amanda. Ben keeps walking in circles. He can’t understand any of this. We ordered a pizza and he pulled a knife on the kid. Or he tried. It fell and almost sliced his toes. He’s a bumbling idiot. What did you leave me with?

I grinned. Make him go for a walk tomorrow. It would do him good, Mals too. Good luck. Hide the knives.

Now you tell me. Hope you’re ok wherever you are.

I struggled for a second. My hands shook, but then I took a deep breath. Everything would be fine. I knew it. I am. You too. Take care of Mals for me.

Will do.

After I looked at the new phone Carter left for me, I texted her the number and said I’d be using that number from now on. When she said that she had programmed it in and would give it to Mallory, I relaxed a little. She hadn’t questioned it. I’d been worried about that, but Amanda and Mallory hadn’t questioned a lot of what I had done over the last week. They trusted me. That was the truth. They knew I would take care of them, and I had.

I looked around my new home.

I shook my head. This was my new life, at least for now. With that final thought, I grabbed my bag and went in search of my bedroom. My priorities were to shower and then get a good night of sleep. Everything could go back to a normal routine.